Lucille Theresa (Lombardo) Naroian, 76, passed away Nov. 6 at Wingate in Haverhill after a long illness.
She was born and raised in Lawrence. The child of a single parent, she attended Saint Mary’s High School in 1960 and then received a diploma in Cosmetology from Essex County Training School in Hawthorne.
Her life saw her involved with many endeavors. She worked as a hairdresser, a pharmacy technician, had an administrative position at Putnam Investments and worked in a chiropractor’s office.
Surprisingly enough, it was portrait painting that finally gave her life meaning. Beginning with the likeness of Arthur Fielder of the Boston Pops, it started out by taking the “prize of the people” at the Art Fair on the Lawrence common in May of 1974, was accepted by Mr. Fielder into his home, and was shown on the morning news program “Good Morning America” on July 10, 1979, the day the Maestro died. To this day, the portrait hangs in his personal library in Brookline. She was also honored to join in the 1973 opening of the Showcase Cinemas in Woburn by painting 14 Academy Award winners in their Academy Award winning roles, painting the portrait of His Holiness Vasken I, Patriarch of the Armenian faith which hung in the Holy Cross Armenian Church in Lawrence, and pictures of many Marist brothers that adorned the walls of Central Catholic High School.
A voracious reader all her life, Naroian began writing the novels she wanted to read. One of the happiest days of her life was the day she received her first published novel. Three more books followed. Seeing them in print brought much joy.
She will be fondly remembered for her larger than life personality and quick wit. She had a wonderful sense of humor, which never failed her even in her final days.
She is survived by her son Raymond Naroian and his wife Theresa as well as grandchildren Zyon, Hannah and Jordan all of Haverhill. She is also the daughter of the late Gertrude M. Lombardo of Lawrence.
Family and friends are invited to a “Celebration of Lucille’s Life,” in the form of a potluck gathering, which will be held at the home of Raymond and Theresa, 78 Marshland St., Haverhill, on Saturday, Jan. 5 from 1-6 p.m. Arrangements are by the Kevin B. Comeau Funeral Home, 486 Main St., Haverhill.